Final answer:
The dark-colored moths likely had more active pigment-producing enzymes during the Industrial Revolution due to natural selection, helping them to better blend into sooty environments, which offered protection from predators. Although enzyme activity might not differ, it could be regulated by genetics in response to the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question about which butterfly has a more active pigment-producing enzyme, the dark- or light-colored one, is one that delves into the biology and the study of genetics as well as evolution. Both dark- and light-colored peppered moths have pigment-producing enzymes, but the activity of these enzymes and the resulting pigmentation can be influenced by genetic variations and environmental factors.
During the Industrial Revolution, the darker peppered moths became more prevalent in soot-polluted environments due to natural selection. This is because the darker moths were camouflaged against the sooty trees, giving them a survival advantage against predators compared to their light-colored counterparts. Hence, we might infer that the darker moths had a more active pigment-producing enzyme to maintain their coloration, which was favorable in the given environmental conditions, although it's essential to note that the actual enzyme activity might be consistent across both but regulated by genetic factors that respond to environmental conditions.